Definitions for "Longitudinal wave"
A wave in which the individual particles of a medium vibrate back and forth in the direction in which the wave travels. Image of longitudinal wave in a spring. Comparision between longitudinal and transverse waves.
A seismic body wave in which particles oscillate along lines in the direction in which the wave travels. Synonymous with P wave.
a wave in which points on the wave move parallel to the direction of wave propagation.